Pool-ball rack.



P. eoss.

POOL BALL RACK. APPLICATION rmm NOV. 12, 190g.

5 sums-sum A TTORNE Y5 PATENTED 001215, 1907.

WITNESSES: j

No. 868,427. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. G. F. 13088.

POOL BALL RACK. APPLIOATION nun NOV.12,1906.

5 sums-sham a.

WWI-,1?

if 41/: 32 w 1/ 5/ w jy M a 1/ (W 4 2 fiawyefifiaw A Trom ms No.868,427. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

G. F. GOSS.

POOL BALL RACK. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTOR/VE Y5 THE NORRIS PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 868,427! PATENTED OCT. 15, 19 7 G. F. GOSS.

POOL BALL RACK. APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET'4.

"mil

WITNESSES: 517]? I jflJJ Z INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS THE nonms PETERS cu.. WASHINGTON. 0v 0 No. 868,427. 4 PATENTED001215, 1907.

G. P. eoss.

POOL BALL RACK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12.1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

fig wiyeflwa;

NVENTOR.

A TTO/e/VE Y5 THE uorzms PETERS cm. WASHINGTON, n c,

UNITE STAFS PATENT @FFIQEL I GEORGF FRANK GOSS, OF WALLAOETON,PENNSYLVANIA.

POOL-BALL RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed November 12,1906. Serial No. 343,073.

ployed in connection with pool tables for automatically collecting theballs as the latter are driven into the pockets.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a device ofvery simple and cheap construction which may be readily attached toexisting pool tables without any change in the construction of thelatter, and without the necessity ol' employing special mechanicalskill.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this classin which the balls pocketed by different players may be collected intoseparate compartments by means of a ball guiding device that may bereadily adjusted from time to time during the progress of the game.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thisclass in which substantially horizontal compartments are arranged insuperposed order so that balls may be collected without danger of injurysuch as frequently occurs where the balls drop into vertically arrangedcompartments.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ball collectingdevice having a number of superposed compartments, and a guiding memberwhich is adj ustable to direct the balls into any one of suchcompartments.

A still l'urther object of the invention is to provide a device of thistype in which the ball guiding device is depressed by the weight of theball running thereovcr, provision being made for limiting the downwardmovement of said guiding device in accordance with the compartment into,which the ball is to be directed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collecting rackhaving means for preventing the return movement of the balls.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collecting rackincluding a number of compartments having ball discharge openings at oneend, in connection with means for holding the balls within thecompartments or permitting their gravitational discharge therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means foradjusting the downward movement ol' the ball guiding device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thisclass in which the alarm mechanism and circuits are so arranged as topermit the playing of a game by two or more players without sounding thealarm in the latter case when eight balls have been pocketed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thisclass in which the adjusting mechanism is so arranged as to move todisplay position a signal on which the number of the player isdisplayed.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacri icing any of the advantages of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawingsc Figure 1 is aperspective view of one endof a pool table provided with a ball collecting rack constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the rackdetached. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the rack on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, the view being on a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of the rack on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview looking at the rear upper portion of the rack. Fig. 6. is

a detail view on an enlarged scale of the holding and discharge gate.Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electrical connections. Fig. 8 is a rearelevation illustrating a slight modification of the rack. Fig. 9 is adetail view of a portion of the same showing the pawls moved to releaseposition. Fig. 10 is a front elevation, parts being broken away in orderto clearly illustrate the construe. tion. Fig. 11 is a detailperspective view of a guide used in the construction shown in Figs. S. 9and 10. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation illustrating a still furthermodification of the invention. Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the same.Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of the movable ball guide Similarnumerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding partsthrough the several figures of the drawings.

The apparatus forming the subject of the present in vention is intendedto be attached to the end of a pool table, and is so arranged that theballs from the various pockets will be conducted through a runway or runways av into the upper rear portion of the rack, the balls beingdirected into the various compartments.

In one form of the invention the balls enter on a pivoted runway 10 bywhiclrthey are guided to the compartments, but this runway or guide maybe slidably mounted or otherwise supported.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the casing 15 isapproximately rectangular in form and is divided by horizontallydisposed partitions 16 into any desired number of compartments, four 01which are shown in the present instance, although the number may beincreased or diminished. These partitions serve as supports for theballs, and the latter are displayed through openings which are formed inthe front wall of the cas ing, said openings being of such constructionas to permit the ready removal of a ball from any compartment in case itbecomes necessary to spot said ball during the progress of the game.

The ball receiving compartments are divided from the rear of the casingby a vertically disposed partition 18 that is provided at one end withopenings 1.) through which the balls enter the various compartments, andas the balls enter these compartments they pass under and raise smallretaining pawls 20 which immediately fall after the passage of the ballsto such position as to prevent return movement of the latter throughsaid openings. The casing also includes a rear vertical wall 20 which,in connection with the end of the casing and the partition 18 serves tosupport shelves 21 in horizontal alinement with the horizontal partition16, these shelves receiving the balls from the run-way or guide 10 andthe momentum of the balls carrying them over the shelves and through theopenings 19 into the various compartments.

The guide or run-way 10 previously referred to is mounted on a pivot pin22 and normally is held in the elevated position shown in Fig. 2 bymeans of a helical compression spring '23. This guide or run-way isformed of a pair of parallel side arms 24 connected at intervals bycross braces and carrying a pin 25, which in connection with a toothedstop arm 26, determines the extent of downward movement of said guide orrunway. Under normal conditions the guide or run-way is in the positionshown in Fig. 2, that is to say, in alinement with the uppermost shelf21, and any balls which enter the guide will be directed on to saidshelf, and

thence in to the uppermost compartment which belongs to player No. 1.When player No. 1 fails, the stop arm 26 is adjusted so that the pin 25may drop to the next tooth of the stop arm under the weight of the ball,and any ball pocketed by the second player will be directed intocompartment No. 2. In similar manner the stop arm is adjusted to permitthe guide to descend to such position as to direct the balls pocketed bythe third player into compartment No. 3, and so on. After eachdepression of the guide by the weight of a ball, the guide is restoredto its elevated position by the spring 23, suitable buffers 28 ofyieldable material being employed at the free end of the guide to lessenthe jar and shock.

The rear wall of the vertical partition 18 is provided with projectingstuds 30 which pass through horizontally disposed slots lorined in arack bar 31, said rack bar carrying the toothed stop arm 26 previouslydescribed. With this rack arm engages a pawl 32, that is pivoted on abar 33, the latter being slidably mounted in suitable guides 34 that aresecured to the partition. One end of the bar 33 is turned upward,forming an arm 35 that is connected to a flexible cord or chain '36 thatextends around the table in such position that it may be pulled by theplayers. The other end of the bar is turned downward forming an arm 37to which is connected the lower end of a lever 38 that is pivoted at 39,the upper end of said lover being connected to the cord or chain 36 andany pull of the cord from any point around the table and in eitherdirection will cause the pawl to advance the rack bar one step, and thusallow the descent oi the ball guide 10 in order that it may direct theballs pocketed by the player into the proper compartment. The arm 37 isengaged by a spring 40 which is placed under stress at each movement ofthe pawl, said spring serving to restorethe bar to initial positionafter each operation.

The rack bar is engaged by a similar spring 41 that tends to move ittoward the left of Fig. 2, but its movement is resisted by a lockingpawl. 43 which holds the rack bar in adjusted position.

As each player fails, the cord or chain 36 is pulled and the rack bar isadvanced to the extent of a single tooth, thus carrying the toothed stoparm 26 forward, so that the ball guide may descend for the purpose ofguiding the ball to the next lowermost compartment.

At the completion of the game, or alter the last player has failed, andthe shot belongs to NO. 1 player, it be comes necessary to restore therack bar to the initial position. For this purpose an additional releasebar 45 is employed, said bar being mounted in the guides 34 and beingprovided with a pair of pins 46 which engage with the two pawls and movethe same from engagement with the rack bar, so that the spring 41 maymove the latter to the initial position. This bar 45 is provided at oneend with an upturned arm 47 which is connected to a flexible chain orcord 48. The opposite end of the bar has an angularly bent arm 50 whichis connected to the lower arm of a lever 51 which is pivoted on a stud52, the upper end of the lever being connected to the cord or chain 48,and this cord or chain also extends around the table, so that it may beoperated by a player at any point. This bar is engaged by a spring 53which tends to restore it to initial position after the strain on thecord or chain is relieved.

The partitions 16 on which the balls rest are arranged at a slightincline, so that the balls tend to run toward the discharge ends of saidpartitions, but while the balls are being collected in the compartments,they are prevented from running past the ends of the partitions by apivoted gate 56, the latter being normally in the position indicated infull lines in Fig. 3. When the game is finished, an arm 57, (Fig. 6),that is connected to the gate, is pulled over to the dotted lineposition, and the balls i all by gravity through the bottom dischargeopcning into a collecting drawer or basket 57 so that they may bereadily placed on the table for the starting of another game.

In order to display the number of the player and the position to whichthe ball guide is adjusted, a suitable indicating mechanism is employed,this in the present instance comprising a number of disks 60, therebeing one of such disks in each compartment. The Iirst disk, which bearsthe numeral 1, is rigidly secured to the casing. The other disks arecarried by angularly bent arms 61 pivoted on a stud 62, the armsextending up through a suitable slot 63 in the upper portion of thecasing. These arms are provided with cams 64 that are arranged to beengaged by a pin 65 projecting from the arm 66 that is carried by therack bar 31. The cams are arranged in successively advancing steps, sothat as the rack bar moves from one position to the other the pin willsuccessively engage with. the cams and will successively move the disksup to display position,

disk No. 2 being exposed to view when the ball guide is free to move todirect the balls oi player No. 2 into the second compartment, and thendisk No. 3 moves in front of disk No. 2, and so on through the entireseries of disks.

It has been found desirable in devices of this class to make someannouncement, or to register or record the entrance of each ball intothe rack, and in the present case an ordinary electric bell is placedwithin the casing and is connected to a dry battery 71. At a point abovethe ball guide, and in position to be engaged by each ball as it passesfrom the table run way a is a pair of contacts 73 which when struck bythe ball will be engaged with each other, and will close a circuit whichmay be traced from the battery through a wire 74. contact 73, a pair ofcontacts 75, wire 76, and bell 70 and wire 77 to return battery. The twocontacts 7 5 are under the control of a push button 78 which may bedepressed by an operating lever 79 that is in convenient position to bemoved by the attendant when racking the balls. If this lever is moved toengage the push button, the circuit is closed, and as each ball entersthe rack the bell will ring. Provision is also made for announcing thecompletion of a game between two players, and for this purpose twobuttons 80 are arranged in the vertical partition, the buttons extendingthrough said partition in position to be engaged by all of the ballswhich enter the lirst and the second compartments At the rear of thebutton of the lirst compartment is a pair of contacts 82, and at therear ot the button of the second coinpartment is a pair ot contacts 83.At the upper portion of the casing is a pair of contacts 8 1 which areunder the control of a push button which latter is engaged by the lever79, the attendant moving the lever so that it will engage this button 85and move from engagement with the button 7 8 when two players only areusing the table. I

When two players only are engaged, the circuit under the control of thecontacts 73 is cut out, and when a ball enters compartment No. 1, itdepresses the push button 80, and the latter engages the contacts 82,thus closing a circuit which may be traced [ruin the battery 71. wire86, one of the contacts 83, contacts 82, wire 37. contacts 84, wire 88,the electric bell, wire 77, to battery. In similar manner when a ballenters compartment No. 2, the contacts 83 are engaged and a circuit isclosed in similar manner.

The two buttons 80 are so located in the rack that when eithercompartment contains eight balls, which ordinarily completes a twohanded pool game, the eighth ball will rest against the button, and thecircuit will be held closed. and the bell will ring continuously, sothat the attendant will know that the game has been tinished.

Each of the compartments may be made of such length to contain the wholefifteen balls, but this will not usually be necessary, but in the eventof a single player pocketing all Iit'teen balls, there is no danger ofthe balls falling within the rear portion of the casing it thecompartment is not long enough to contain them.

7 It will be seen that the ball guide is held from downward movement bythe teeth 01' the stop bar 26, and ii the guide is directing balls intoany compart ment and that compartment becomes filled the remaining ballswill collect on the guide, and then when the discharge gate 56 is movedto open position, the balls will run by gravity through the compartmentand from the guide into and through such compartment to the dischargegate.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11, the arrangement of thecompartment remains substantially the same as previously described, butthe guide instead oi being pivoted, is arranged to move vertically,provision being made for stopping the guide at a point adjacent to eachof the horizontal partitions which divide the compartments from eachother.-

The partitions terminate short of the entrance end of .the compartments,and in the space thus formed is arranged a vertically movable guide 10which in this instance is in the form of an arcuate block carried by asuitable base plate 100 that is adapted to guideways formed in the endof the rack casing. This guide is arranged to move to such position asto guide the balls into any one of the compartments, provision beingmade for stopping the guide first at compartment N0. 1, then atcompartment No. 2, and so on, and the balls tall by gravity from thetable runway into contact with the guide, and thence are deflected intothe compartment in which they belong.

The rear portion of the casing is provided with a short shatter stud 102on which is mounted a segment 103 carrying a weight 104 which tends tomaintain the guide 10 in its elevated position, that is, in alinementwith the uppermost of the horizontal partitions 18. The hub of thesegment is provided with ratchet teeth 1.05 which'are arranged to beengaged by two pawls 32 and 13 the pawl 43 being a lock pawl, and thepawl 32 being carried by a bar 33 which is suitably connected to theoperating devices extending around the table as previously described.

Each time the bar 33 is moved, the segment 103 is turned to the extentof a single tooth, and the guide 10 is lowered into alinement with thenext lowermost partition, the segment being retained in this position bythe lock pawl 43.

Arranged in suitable guides at the rear of the casing, is a slidable bar47 carrying pawl lifting pins of the character previously described, andarranged to bev operated by the cords or other flexible members thatextend around the table. This bar 47 is provided with a notch 112 thatis arranged to be engaged by a catch 1.13 arranged at one end of a lever114, one end oi which is disposed in the path of movement of a pin 115that is carried by the head of the segment 103.

The operation of this device is almost identical with that previouslydescribed, the operator pulling on the bar 33 and advancing the segmentstep by step, so that the guide 10 will be lowered into alinement withthe successive partitions. v

After the balls of the last player have been directed into the propercompartment, and it is desired to restore the guide into alinement withthe first partition, the bar 47 is pulled, and when moved forward, thecatch 113 enters the catch 1.1.2, and retains the bar in the position towhich it is adjusted. The pawls are thus locked in idle position untilthe segment moves back to its lowest position, and immediately beforearriving at this position, the pin 115 engages the lever 114 and movesthe catch to release position, so that the bar 47 may be moved to allowthe pawls to again engage with the ratchet teeth.

In order to display the numbers of the players, the numbers are arrangedon small disks 116 which are carried by levers 117 having cam faces 118arranged at successively advancing positions with respect to anoperating pin or pins 11.9 carried by the segment. When the segmentadvances a single step, a pin will engage with one of the levers 117 andwill move the display rack of No. 1 player to position above the top ofthe casing. When the segment is advanced another step, the second leverwill be engaged in order to move the second disk to display position,while the lever oi the first disk is disengaged and allowed to fall.

The apparatus may of course be employed in connection with a registeringor recording device of any suitable character lor the purpose oi makinga record of the number oi balls pocketed and the amount to be paid forthe game.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14 is illustrated a further modification pf theinvention, where the frame and the horizontal partitions 18 are similarto those previously described. Near one end of the casing is an openingthrough which the balls enter from the table run-way and in alinementwith this opening is a vertically movable ball guide 10, said guidebeing in the form of a plate, the upper "face of which is provided withagroove 130, and at the rear edge of the plate is a vertically extendedstrip 131 having a slot 132 to receive the rear end of a pivot bar 133which may be moved upward to the position indicated in Fig. 13 for thepurpose of throwing off a ball supported by the guide and directing suchball on to any one ofthe horizontal partitions 16. The ball guide iscarried by a counter-balanced chain or cord 135 which runs over a sheave13G supported by the frame, the counter-weight being sufficient to movethe ball guide to the position indicated in Fig. 13, the upper edge ofthe guide being then in alinement with the lower edge of the openingsthrough which the ball enters, and the weight of the ball beingsuffieient to move the guide downward. The casing is provided with aseries'oi pivot bars 140 on which are mounted stop pawls 1.41, disposedin the path of movement of the pivot bar 133. The outer ends of thepivot bars are provided with cranked arms 142 which are arranged to beengaged by a series of stepped cams 143 that extend from an arm 144carried by a slidable rack bar 31 which receives movement from the pawlmechanism previously described.

The normal position of the parts, when player No. 1. is in action, isindicated in Figs. 12 and 13, the ball guide 10 being supported in aposition opposite the uppermost partition 16 and when a ball entersthrough and rolls over the guide 10, the latter will be slightlydepressed by the weight of the ball while downward movement of the bar133 will be checked by the pawl 141, so that said bar 1.33 will assumethe angular position shown in Fig. 1.4, and the ball will'be thrown fromthe guide 10 into the uppermost compartment.

When player No. 1 starts, the rack bar 31" is advanced one step, and theuppermost of the cams 143 engages the uppermost crank 142, and turns theuppermost pawl-l4l to indicate the position. The guide 10 will beretained in the uppermost position by the counterweight, until a ball isreceived thereon, and then the guide will move downward until it engagesthe second pawl 140, whereupon the bar 133 will be held upward and willdischarge the ball into the second compartment. The next movement of therack bar 31 will cause the second pawl to be moved to inoperativeposition, and

1. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, and a singleball guiding member adjustable to direct balls into all of saidcompartments.

2. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, a ball guidingmember movable by the weight of a ball to direct the latter into anycompartment, and an adjusting means for limiting the movement of theguiding member.

A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivotally mountedball guiding member for directing balls into any of the compartments,andmeans for determining the extent of movement of said guiding member.

4. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivotallymounted guiding member for directing balls into any of saidcompartments, said guiding device being movable by the Weight of a ball,and an adjustable means for determining the extent of movement of saidguiding device.

5. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments,

a pivotally mounted ball guide for directing the balls into' any of saidcompartments, said guide being movable under the weight of a ball, and amanually adjustable means for determining the extent of movement of saidguide.

6. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivotallymounted guide for directing the balls into said compartments, said guidebeing movable under the weight of a ball, and means for restoring theguide to initial elevated position after the delivery of each ball.

7. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, :1 pivotallymounted ball guide movable under the Weight of a ball and arranged todeliver balls into any compartment. i

S. A pool hall rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivoted guidefor directing the balls into any of the compartments, a pin or lugprojecting from the guide, a toothed stop arm with which said pin mayengage, and means for effecting a step by step movement of said arm.

0. A pool ball rack having compartments for the reception of the balls,a guide for directing the balls into such compartments, said guide beingmovable under the weight of a ball, means for restoring the guide toinitial elevated position after the passage of each ball, a pin or lugprojecting from the guide, a toothed stop arm with which said pin or lugmay engage, and means for effecting a step by step movement of said stoparm.

10. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivoted guideadjustable to direct balls into any compartment, said guide beingarranged to move downward under the weight of a ball, a toothed stoparm, a rack bar carrying the same, a manually operable pawl engagingsaid rack bar, and means on the guide for engaging said toothed arm.

11. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, :1 pivotedguide for directing the balls into any of said compartments, a pin orlug projecting from the guide, a toothed stop arm with which said pin orlug may engage, a rack bar carrying the arm, a pawl engaging the arm, apawl carrying rack bar, a carrying bar for the pawl, arms extending fromthe bar, and an operating means engaging the arms.

12. A pool ball rack having ball -1 eceiving compartments,

a pivoted guide for directing balls into said compartments, a pin or lugprojecting from said guide, a toothed stop arm with which said pin orlug engages when the guide is depressed, a slidable rack bar carryingsaid arm, a pawl for etlecting step by step movement of the rack bar inone direction, means for operating the pawl, a spring engaging the rackbar and tending to resist movement of the pawl, and means for moving thepawl from engagement with the rack bar to permit the return of said rackbar and arm to initial position.

13. A pool hall rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivoted guidefor directing the balls into said compartments, said guide beingdepressible by the weight of the ball, a pin or lug projecting from theguide, a toothed stop arm with which said pin or lug engages, a slidablerack bar carrying the arm, a pawl lor actuating said rack bar, acarrying bar for the pawl, a locking pawl engaging the rack bar. aslidable bar having a projection for engaging both pawls, and ilexibleconnections for operating both bars.

14. A pool hall rack having ball receiving compartments, a movable ballguide for directing the balls into said compartments, a flexible meansarranged to extend around the table and controlling the adjustment ofthe guide 13. In apparatus of the class described, a pool ball rackhaving bail receiving compartments, an adjusting means [or guiding theballs into any of the compartments, and means for controlling suchadjustment, said means being arranged to extend around the pool table.

16. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, an adjustableguide for directing the balls into such compartments, and means forindicating the operative position 01. the guide.

1?. A pool hall rack having ball receiving compartments,

an adjustable guide for directingthe balls into said compartments, amanually operable means controlling the adjustment, and means forindicating the operative position of said guide.

18. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, an adjustableguide for directing the balls into said compartments, a toothed stop armfor controlling the extent oi movement of the guide, a rack bar'carryingsaid arm, means for effecting a step by step movement of the bar, aplurality of indicating disks, pivoted arms carrying said disks, saidarms having cams, and the cams being disposed in successive order, andmeans on the rack bar for engaging said cams and moving the successivedisks to display position.

19. A pool ball rack having ball receiving compartments, an adjustableguide for directing the balls into such compartments, and an electricalalarm having ball closed contacts arranged at the entrance end of theguide.

20. A pool hall rack having ball receiving compartments, a pivoted guidefor directing the balls into such compartments, an electrical alarm, asource of energy, circuits connecting the source of energy and thealarm, a controlling switch for rendering one or other of the circuitsoperative, ball actuated contacts arranged in two of the contacts andconnected in one of the circuits, and ball actuated contacts arranged inthe other circuit and disposedat the entrance end of the guide;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FRANK GOSS.

Witnesses HARRY Bynns, GEORGE K. MCGILL.

